Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

The surrounding cultivators, who had been called penniless wretches, were immediately displeased.

"Heh, you make it sound like you're not a penniless wretch? You're not just a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator."

"Exactly, like sticking a scallion in a pig's nose and pretending to be a hairy elephant?"

"Bah! I am from the Song family of Tianqing River. My ancestor was a Foundation Establishment expert. How can I be like you rootless rogue cultivators?" the disdainful young man said arrogantly.

The Song family of Tianqinghe is a Foundation Establishment power not far from Huangze City.

The moment the mention of Foundation Establishment experts was mentioned, the cultivators who had been shouting just moments before immediately fell silent.

If this young man comes from a Foundation Establishment family, then he is indeed stronger than them.

"Heh heh, you're not happy about being scolded a couple of times? Don't even mention low-grade first-tier junk, even mid-grade pills, I'll eat them like candy..."

The young man from the Song family continued his mockery.

This statement naturally included Lu Zaian in the insult.

Lu Zaian glanced over and memorized the young man's appearance...

Is it the Song family of Tianqinghe?

Having a Foundation Establishment cultivator as a backer makes you arrogant.

Saying you're selling junk?

What did they take Lu Zaian for?

Are you a scavenger?

Although he was somewhat annoyed, Lu Zaian didn't show it, treating it like a stray dog ​​barking on the roadside...

Regardless, I've achieved my goal of making an appearance this time.

Although fighting is prohibited in Huangze City, it is only the most basic restriction on cultivators.

Even in the ordinary world during peacetime, there are still thieves and robbers.

And cultivators who possess powerful weapons, once they are confident of escaping unscathed, are even less likely to abide by these rules and regulations.

However, from now on, no fools should bother me anymore...

After dealing with the You Sha Twins at the city guard headquarters, Lu Zaian went straight to East District 1.

Then they rented a more spacious cave dwelling with a stronger spiritual atmosphere.

Within the outer city area, it is considered the best.

Lu Zaian carefully set up a mid-grade array to guard the cave before going out.

"Alright, now let's see who's targeting me..."

Lu Zaian took out the array plate from before.

He has repaired and corrected the crooked and obscure array patterns on the array plate one by one.

Furthermore, a reverse tracing function has been added.

A mysterious aura, as thin as a hair, continuously extended outwards...

Lu Zaian followed this energy, winding his way through the market and crowds, finally stopping in front of a large three-story shop.

"San Ding Lou?"

Looking at the shop's magnificent gold signboard, Lu Zaian grinned.

Indeed, rivals are enemies...

Lu Zai'an had also heard of this San Ding Lou restaurant.

It is said that the Three Cauldrons Pavilion has three leaders, each specializing in alchemy, weapon crafting, and formation techniques, respectively.

All three of them were at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The Three Cauldrons Pavilion they created specialized in selling first-tier mid-to-low-grade pills, magic weapons, and first-tier low-grade formations.

It is quite famous throughout the entire outer eastern district.

Lu Zaian pinched his chin, stroked his white stubble, and stared at the bustling lobby of the San Ding Lou.

"It seems that I've sold too many pills this year, which has attracted their attention..."

The market for elixirs is experiencing a supply shortage.

But monks naturally seek out products that are both high-quality and inexpensive.

Lu Zaian had thought of this when he first started selling pills.

His own pills were no better than those of other alchemists.

In order to build a reputation, the only option is to offer prices lower than those of the larger stores...

The effect is definitely there.

However, this has now brought trouble to Lu Zaian.

A fake business war, full of conspiracies and tricks.

Real business warfare is simple and brutal.

"Hmph, you think you can't be tracked down by hiring someone to commit murder? Or are you just being arrogant and fearless?"

The fact that San Ding Lou has been able to operate in the outer city's eastern district for so many years suggests that it must have some background and connections.

There might even be a Foundation Establishment cultivator behind it all...

Lu Zaian did not expect to solve the problem by reporting them for hiring someone to commit murder.

"However, since this assassination attempt failed, and I have also publicly displayed the strength of the ninth level of Qi Refining, the Three Cauldrons Tower should not make any rash moves in the short term."

Lu Zaian didn't believe that the Three Cauldrons Tower would bother to send a Foundation Establishment cultivator to deal with him over such a trivial matter.

"Once I break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, all problems will be solved... I'll let you guys cause trouble for a while."

To put it bluntly, Lu Zaian didn't take the petty squabbles between Qi Refining cultivators seriously at all.

One beggar may be jealous of another beggar who earns more than him.

But he wouldn't be jealous of a millionaire.

Or rather... being jealous is useless.

The gap between Qi Refining cultivators and Foundation Establishment cultivators is as vast as that between a beggar and a millionaire.

Lu Zaian put away the array plate and turned back to stroll around the market.

.........

"My current Qi Refining cultivation is only at the eighth level, and I still have a long way to go before reaching the Foundation Establishment stage."

However, perhaps I can try... Body Refinement and Foundation Building first!

Lu Zaian's body refinement cultivation has reached the ninth level.

If one has sufficient vital energy and spiritual aids, one can first achieve the body refinement and foundation building stage.

Cultivating both the physical body and the Dharma is very resource-intensive and time-consuming.

Few cultivators typically choose this path.

However, for Lu Zaian, strength is more important than anything else, and he has plenty of time...

However, after searching the market for a long time, Lu Zaian was still not satisfied.

He purchased some top-grade first-tier demon beast blood essence.

There are also some top-grade first-tier pills that can temper the body.

These spiritual items are priced between one hundred and several hundred spirit stones each.

The price of elixirs is higher.

It is definitely not something that ordinary cultivators can afford.

However, for Lu Zaian now, these things are merely icing on the cake.

To truly break through the Body Refinement and Foundation Establishment stage, one must find a suitable second-tier spiritual object!

Lu Zaian returned to his cave.

He tried purifying his blood essence with the Blood Spirit Pearl and taking and refining pills, but he still kept shaking his head.

"The effect is not good. These things are not true second-tier spiritual items. They can only push my body refinement cultivation to the ninth level of perfection, but the probability of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage is less than 100%..."

Breaking through to a higher realm is no joke.

If the breakthrough fails.

At best, it will cause a backlash and a regression in cultivation.

In severe cases, it can lead to immediate death.

Given Lu Zaian's current state, his chances of successfully breaking through to the Body Refinement and Foundation Establishment stage are around 70%.

For an ordinary cultivator, this is already a very high probability.

However, Lu Zaian still felt it was not a safe bet.

If the probability isn't 100%, what's the difference between that and suicide?

"Second-tier spirit items are quite precious even in the Desolate Swamp City."

Moreover, once they appeared, they were mostly bought up by Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately.

It's not easy for Qi Refining cultivators to obtain it.

I'll just wait patiently..."

Whether it's body refinement and foundation building or qi refinement and foundation building.

To ensure a 100% success rate, Lu Zaian had to rely on the power of a second-tier spiritual object.

Before that, all Lu Zaian needed to do was accumulate wealth and wait for an opportunity.

When it comes to accumulating wealth, Lu Zaian recalls the elixir formulas in his mind and keeps filtering them.

"It's time to try refining a mid-grade first-tier pill..."